[1][2] A cello player in an orchestra, Peter, returns to his home village to see a childhood friend, Bambas.

Peter and his fiancee stay with Bambas and his family for the day and get involved in some comic exploits, including a possible symphony concert.

[3][4] Ivan Passer had previously made a short film, A Boring Afternoon, which took home a prize at the Lorcano International Film Festival, but he had not directed any features when he was approached by his screenwriting friend Jaroslav Papoušek to direct Intimate Lighting.

A few months later, he was surprised when he was told to start work on the project even though the studio had openly expressed their reservations about the script.

"[6] Jim Hoberman of The Village Voice wrote that it was "a small masterpiece...less interested in narrative than a state of being, the movie is as subtle in its emotional effects as its title would suggest.